Selena Gomez & the Scene is an American pop rock band from Hollywood, California, formed in 2008. Along with lead singer and founder Selena Gomez, the band consists of bassist Joey Clement, drummer Greg Garman, keyboardist Dane Forrest, and guitarist Drew Taubenfeld. The band has released three studio albums, seven singles and nine music videos. Gomez & the Scene released their debut album, Kiss & Tell on September 29, 2009. The album debuted at number 9 on the US Billboard 200. In March 2010 the album was certified Gold by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The second single from the album, "Naturally", reached the top thirty in the US, and the top twenty in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and Germany. The song has also been certified Platinum in the US and Canada. As of 2012, the album has sold over 900,000 copies in the US. Their second album, A Year Without Rain was released on September 17, 2010. Two singles were released from the album, "Round & Round" and "A Year Without Rain". The album debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 4. It was also certified Gold by the RIAA in January 2011. As of 2012, the album has sold over 800,000 in the US.

Their third album, When the Sun Goes Down was released on June 28, 2011. The first single from the album is titled "Who Says", which debuted on March 8, 2011 on On Air with Ryan Seacrest and premiered its music video on March 11 on Disney Channel. The song was certified Platinum in the US. The second single from the album, "Love You Like a Love Song", was released on June 17, 2011 and was certified 2× Platinum in the US. The third and final single from the album is "Hit the Lights". The band is currently in a hiatus as Gomez works on her acting career and her debut solo album.

Since their debut, the band has won numerous awards and recognitions for their musical works. They have won a total of four Poptastic Awards, including the Best Duo or Group Award. They have been nominated for five awards at the MuchMusic Video Awards, and two MTV Europe Music Awards. Their song "Love You Like a Love Song" was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award in 2012, making it their first VMA nomination. In 2011, the band won its first People's Choice Award for Breakout Group. Gomez & the Scene have also won a total of six Teen Choice Awards since 2010, including Choice Music: Group and Choice Music: Love Song for "Love You Like a Love Song".

History

2008–09: Formation

Selena Gomez first announced plans of forming a band in 2008, citing bands such as Paramore as the inspiration behind this. During an interview with Jocelyn Vena of MTV News, Gomez was quoted as saying "I'm going to be in a band. I'm not going to be a solo artist...I don't want my name attached to it. I will be singing..." Gomez later announced, via Twitter, that the band would be called The Scene. It is an "ironic jab" at the people who called Gomez a "wannabe scene". Gomez stated that her label, Hollywood Records, didn't want her to have a band due to Gomez already having a "fan base", leading Gomez to change the name of the band to Selena Gomez & the Scene in an attempt to keep both herself and the label happy. Upon confirming the band, Gomez stated she wanted to have a "pop-rock" feel to the album, and later told MTV News that she was learning how to play instruments such as the piano and the electric guitar. Gomez stated in an interview with Z100 New York that the band was formed through a long, exhausting audition process. When picking the members of the band, Gomez was quoted as saying "I would like all guys in the band. I'm looking for someone who's very passionate about music and can show me that they can rock out. I like having people with me to lean on and write with and have fun with." The original line-up of the band saw Gomez on vocals, and featured Ethan Roberts on lead guitar and backing vocals, Greg Garman on drums, Joey Clement on bass guitar, and Nick Foxer on keyboard and backing vocals. The process of band auditions and interviews was posted in the fourth "episode" of Selena Gomez's vlog series on her official YouTube channel. Shortly after joining the band, keyboardist Nick Foxer left for unknown reasons, and was later replaced by Dane Forrest. During a live performance for UNICEF in 2012, Gomez confirmed that Ethan Roberts would be leaving the group to pursue solo projects, with Gomez wishing him luck. He was replaced with Drew Taubenfeld that same year, though Taubenfeld does not provide backing vocals like Roberts did. The group has also featured various back-up singers during tours, including YouTube star Christina Grimmie, who toured with Gomez & the Scene in 2010.

2009–10: Kiss & Tell and A Year Without Rain

The band's debut studio album, Kiss & Tell, was released on September 29, 2009 through Hollywood Records. Gomez worked with several writers and producers on the album including Gina Schock of the Go-Go's. Musically, the album has a combination of different styles, prominently rock, and dance elements. The album was compared to releases by fellow Disney stars such as Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato, and received generally mixed to positive reviews.Kiss & Tell was a commercial success, debuting at number 9 on the Billboard 200 in the US. It was later certified Gold in the country for sales exceeding 500,000 copies. It was successful in other territories as well, entering the Top 10 in Greece and Poland, as well as entering the Top 20 in the United Kingdom. To promote the album, Gomez & the Scene made numerous televised performances on shows such as season nine of Dancing with the Stars,The Ellen DeGeneres Show,Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest among other shows. The band also promoted the album with the concert tour, Selena Gomez & the Scene: Live in Concert. Gomez & the Scene, along with Justin Bieber, played at the 2010 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and the band and Justin Bieber also co-headlined Popcon. The band also contributed to Disney's All Wrapped Up Vol. 2. The EP includes the band's cover of "Winter Wonderland" as well as Christmas covers by other successful artists.

The band's lead single, "Falling Down", was released on August 25, 2009 for digital download. The music video premiered after the world premiere of Gomez' TV-movie Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie on August 28, 2009. The single was described as being "pop-rock" by Bill Lamb of About.com, while Digital Spy compared it to music released by American singer Pink. The song had minor commercial success, peaking at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 69 on the Canadian Hot 100. Their single "Falling Down" was featured on Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 12, along with songs by other popular artists. Jams 12 was officially released on March 30, 2010. The second single from the album, "Naturally" was released on December 11, 2009 along with a music video for digital download. The music video was shot on November 14, 2009 and premiered on Disney Channel following the premiere of Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation on December 11, 2009. The single debuted at number 39 and later peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has peaked at number 18 on the Canadian Hot 100. It is the band's biggest hit to date and first top 40 hit beating out their first single "Falling Down" and also their first number 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. "Naturally" had its highest peak in Hungary where it peaked at number 4 on the singles chart, becoming the band's first top five hit anywhere in the world. On July 15, 2010, the single was certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of 1,000,000 in the US.

Following the success of Kiss & Tell, work on the band's second studio album began in 2010. The finished product, A Year Without Rain, was released on September 17, 2010. The album continues the dance-pop/electropop style of the group's hit single "Naturally". "I think we wanted to do something a little fun. We wanted to do a techno vibe, " said lead singer Selena Gomez. Gomez said in an interview with Z100 New York that it would feature some songs that did not make it onto the first album and that the rest of the band would be much more included on it. In an interview with MTV, Gomez said, "I'm really proud of this record, it's very different, and kind of shows [our] growth a little bit in music... I think if anything the lyrics are more powerful, in a way." It debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 4 with sales of a little over 66,000, barely selling more than Kiss & Tell. Much like the band's previous album, A Year Without Rain was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the US. As of 2012, the album has sold an estimated 609,000 copies in the United States, according to Billboard.

The record's first single, "Round & Round", premiered on June 18, 2010. The accompanying music video, which was filmed in Budapest, premiered two days later. The single was released on June 22, 2010. The song has been certified Gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 500,000 copies. It debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 76 on the Canadian Hot 100. It also debuted at number 15 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart and at number 47 in the UK. The album's second single and title track "A Year Without Rain" was released on September 7, 2010. The music video premiered on September 3, 2010, after the world premiere of Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. The Spanish version of "A Year Without Rain" ("Un Año Sin Lluvia") was released three months after the English version. On July 13, Selena Gomez & the Scene's song "Live Like There's No Tomorrow" was released as a single from the movie Ramona and Beezus. The song is also a track on A Year Without Rain. Despite the success of the film, the song failed to chart on any major charts worldwide.

The album and subsequent singles were promoted mainly through televised performances and concert tours, much like with their previous album. Gomez & the Scene performed "Round & Round" live on shows such as America's Got Talent,Blue Peter,Daybreak, and MTV's The Seven, while performing "A Year Without Rain" on Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Lopez Tonight among other shows. On October 27, 2010, the band played an acoustic set for charity (UNICEF). They were also part of the Jingle Ball tour during December. In 2011, the band performed "A Year Without Rain" and won Favorite Breakout Artist on the Peoples Choice Awards, against Justin Bieber. The album was further promoted through the band's A Year Without Rain Tour, which was both critically and commercially successful. During a backstage interview, Gomez remarked that she was conceptualizing the tour as far as stage and production and promised an amazing show with an "epic" stage for 2011.

2011–present: When the Sun Goes Down and hiatus

On February 15, 2011, Hollywood Records confirmed that a new album was in the works. Though the album was initially titled Otherside, it was later changed to When the Sun Goes Down. the album was released on June 28, 2011. The album expanded on the pop and dance elements found on the band's last album, and features a more electropop and synthpop sound. The album also explores organic instrumentation. The sound of the album was compared to recent releases by artists such as Kelly Clarkson among others.When the Sun Goes Down featured writing credits from writers and producers such as pop icon Britney Spears, pop singer Katy Perry, and Rock Mafia, among others. The album received mixed to generally positive critical reviews, currently holding a score of 58 on Metacritic based on six reviews. Bill Lamb of About.com referred to the album as Gomez's best album yet in terms of vocal ability. It was also a commercial success, debuting at number 4 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 78,000 copies in its first week of release. This marked the highest first week sales for the band to date, outselling their first two albums by nearly 12,000 copies. As of 2012, When the Sun Goes Down has sold an estimated 642,000 copies in the US alone.

The album's lead single "Who Says" had its world premiere on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on March 8. The accompanying music video, which was directed by Chris Applebaum, premiered on VEVO March 11. The single follows in succession of other self-empowerment singles such as "Firework" by Katy Perry, "Fuckin' Perfect" by Pink, and "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga. "Who Says" was a critical and commercial success, becoming the band's highest peaking song on the Hot 100 chart to date, where it peaked at number 21. The song has also been certified Platinum by the RIAA, becoming their second single to achieve this feat. On May 28, Gomez announced on her official Twitter that one of the songs from the album, "Bang Bang Bang" would be released as part of an iTunes album countdown on June 7, 2011. Gomez later announced in an interview that the second single from the album would be "Love You Like a Love Song". The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio airplay on August 16, 2011 in the United States. The single later went on to become the band's highest performing single in the US to date, where it peaked at number 22 on the Hot 100 chart, their second highest peaking single to date. The song became their highest charting single on the Pop Songs chart based on radio airplay, where it peaked at number 6. The single was later certified 4x Platinum in the US, making it the band's first song to achieve this feat. "Hit the Lights" was released as the third and final single in 2012, but it failed to have much success.

Much like with their previous albums, When the Sun Goes Down was promoted mainly through live performances. Gomez appeared on both the Late Show with David Letterman on March 16, 2011, and The Seven on March 18, 2011 to promote the lead single "Who Says". The band performed the song for the first time at the 3rd annual Concert For Hope on March 20, 2011. Later, they performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on March 22, 2011, and on Dancing with the Stars on April 5, 2011. The band also performed the song on an episode of So Random!. The band also performed the song on Good Morning America on June 17, 2011. On June 19, 2011, the band performed the song on the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards, whereas they performed it on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Live with Regis and Kelly on June 24, 2011 and June 29, 2011, respectively. Gomez performed the song "Love You Like a Love Song" on Good Morning America on June 17, 2011. The song has also been performed on the UK program Daybreak on July 8, 2011. The band also performed it at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, August 7, 2011. Gomez & the Scene performed the song on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on September 19, 2011. On March 23, 2011, Hollywood Records announced the We Own the Night Tour, which began on July 24, 2011.

In January 2012, Gomez announced that the band was on hiatus and that they would not release a new album in 2012. This was later reaffirmed as Gomez announced on her Facebook page that she was taking a break from music in order to focus on her acting career, writing "My band and I are going our separate ways for a while. This year is all about films and acting and I want my band to play music wherever with whoever. We will be back, but it will be a good while." On July 22, 2012, Selena Gomez & the Scene won "Choice Music: Group" for third time in a row at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards. Gomez released her debut solo album, Stars Dance, in 2013.

Members

Current

Selena Gomez – lead vocals (2008–present)

Greg Garman – drums(2008–present)

Joey Clement – bass guitar(2008–present)

Drew Taubenfeld – lead guitar (2012–present)

Dane Forrest – keyboards (2008–present)

Former

Nick Foxer – keyboards, backing vocals(2008–2009)

Ethan Roberts – lead guitar, backing vocals(2008–2012)

Touring

Lindsay Harper – backing vocals (2010–present)

Katelyn Clampett – backing vocals (2011–present)

Ashleigh Haney – backing vocals (2011)

Christina Grimmie – backing vocals (2010–2011)

Discography

Main article: Selena Gomez & the Scene discography

Kiss & Tell (2009)

A Year Without Rain (2010)

When the Sun Goes Down (2011)

Tours

Selena Gomez & the Scene: Live in Concert (2009–2010)

A Year Without Rain Tour (2010–2011)

We Own the Night Tour (2011–2012)

Awards and nominations

See also List of awards and nominations received by Selena Gomez

Year

Award

Category

Title of work

Result

2010

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Music: Group

Selena Gomez & the Scene

Won

2010

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Music: Breakout Artist

Selena Gomez & the Scene

Won

2011

Hollywood Teen TV Award

Favorite Musical Group

Selena Gomez & the Scene

Nominated

2011

Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (Argentina)

Favorite International Singer

Selena Gomez & the Scene

Won

2011

People's Choice Awards

Favorite Breakout Artist

Selena Gomez & the Scene

Won

2011

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Music: Group

Selena Gomez & the Scene

Won

2011

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Music: Single

Who Says

Won

2011

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Music: Love Song

Love You like a Love Song

Won

2012

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Music: Group

Selena Gomez & the Scene

Won

2012

Teen Choice Awards

Choice Music: Single by a Group

Hit the Lights

Nominated

See also

List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart

List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance airplay chart